Favourite Christmas Tag.

I don't usually get around to doing any tags - although I do enjoy reading them - but as I love anything to do with Christmas, I wanted to give it a go!  

Favourite festive food

Christmas dinner is probably my favourite food at Christmas…obviously.

Favourite reindeer

Rudolph, because he was unique…and the only one I really know!

Favourite day of Christmas

Christmas day, but I also love the whole run up to Christmas and the excitement of Christmas eve…plus because my parents and sister tend to be working Christmas day, we tend to have our Christmas on Christmas eve.

Favourite Christmas song

Now, I sing along to most of them, but I don’t actually know any of the names. Therefore I’m just going to say all of them!

Favourite present

Generally I get a lot of very random presents. However, this year I got a new iPhone 6, therefore that has got to be my favourite present yet…I also bought myself some Timberland's as a present to myself…do they count?

Favourite festive film

Ok…from the top of my head, I like the Grinch, Muppet's Christmas Carol, Nightmare Before Christmas and Arthur Christmas, however this is only a few, I really like animated films, as you can tell!

Favourite cracker toy

We didn’t have crackers this year, but last year we had balloons and you made them in to balloon animals, and the year before that we had some sort of reindeer race inspired crackers, which was fun. We tend to look for ones which have something good inside…which is actually pretty hard.

Favourite cracker joke

I can never remember jokes whether they're from crackers or not - some cracker jokes are so lame and repetitive thought!

Favourite Christmas decorations

I love the tree lights. To be honest, I like lights in general, at work we have a light sensory room and that’s where I do most of my planning, therefore having Christmas lights all over the tree, and when people put tasteful lights outside their house, looks super pretty too.

Favourite Christmas candle scent

Most people say that a real Christmas tree is the best scent at Christmas…but I haven’t ever smelt one, however I am determined to have a real tree one day. However, candle wise I really love cinnamon!

Favourite Christmas advert

The John Lewis adverts are the best - I love the penguins this year, but I'm still hung up on the one from a few years ago with all the animals and the Lily Allan song.

Favourite festive tradition

I don’t really have any festive traditions. I like being with my family at Christmas and all sitting in the living room opening presents and watching films together…does that count as a tradition?

Favourite place to spend Christmas

I live with my parents, therefore that’s where I spend Christmas, last year we went to my sisters but her cooker wasn’t big enough and it caused too much aggro, therefore she just came round to ours.  I can't imagine ever wanting to be away on holiday over Christmas, it just wouldn't feel the same.

Favourite Christmas fact

I don’t really know many Christmas facts, however my dad did tell me that for it to officially classed as a White Christmas, only one flake of snow has to land at one of the Met Office buildings…still waiting on a White Christmas!

Favourite thing about snow 

I love everything about snow, making snowmen, throwing snowballs, making snow angels, wearing my hunter willies and taking my dog for a walk (she is the only person I now who loves snow more then me), but my favourite thing is when you wake up to freshly fallen snow in the morning and everywhere is beautifully covered without a single footprint.  I hate it when it turns to dirty, yucky sludge!

Naturally Active.

Not long ago I wrote a review about Liz Earle’s very handy skincare Try-Me-Kit. I was that impressed with the results that I actually asked for the full sized range for Christmas. As I’ve been using it for a few months now, I thought I would give you an up to date in-depth review about the products. I’m going to focus mainly on her moisturiser and mask, however I will include a little review about her Cleanse & Polish cleanser and her toner. The main reason I didn’t want to write loads about her cleanser and toner is purely because there are that many reviews available that we all just start to say the same thing. Furthermore, I would rather let you all know about the two products that don’t get as much hype as they deserve!

So lets begin…

Six-Inch.

Timberland -

Six-Inch Premium Boots

‘Here it is: the original Timberland® boot that helped start it all nearly forty years ago. Admittedly we’ve made a few improvements over the years, such as the addition of our exclusive anti-fatigue technology for all-day comfort, but our six-inch boots remain just as sturdy and dependable as ever. They’re crafted in premium waterproof leather with seam-sealed construction to keep your feet dry, whatever the elements throw at you. Famed for their long-lasting durability, our six-inch premium boots will stand up to a beating in mud, rain, sand and snow and keep coming back for more.’

Limited Edition Gold.

Burberry –

Gold (No. 25) Complete Eye Palette 

Burberry is a brand that I haven’t ever been dawn to neither make up or clothing wise. However, this Christmas my boyfriend treated me to this beautiful palette and it truly fell in love. The Burberry Complete Eye Palette in Gold (No. 25) is a new, limited edition eye shadow palette released as part of Burberry's Gold Collection for Holiday 2014.  Everything in this collection is encased in the festive and stunning gold packaging instead of their usual, gunmetal finish. I personally think this is one of the most beautiful eye shadow palette I have ever used and here’s why…

Filmstar.

Charlotte Tilbury –

Filmstar Bronze & Glow

“This is a secret that silver screen sirens have kept to themselves for years – and once I share it with you – so will you! With Filmstar Bronze & Glow you can slim, sculpt, shorten, trim and highlight your features. It’s amazing what clever shading and highlighting tricks can do to your facial framework - it’s an illusion that I use all the time, particularly for red carpet scrutiny, and my clients can’t get enough of it. Take what you were born with and maximise your assets with Filmstar Bronze & Glow!”

Sheer Skin Tint.

Liz Earle –

Sheer Skin Tint SPF15

‘Discover enviably radiant skin with our award-winning complexion perfector. With its rich and creamy, yet lightweight formula, Sheer Skin Tint delivers an even, dewy and beautifully natural-looking finish, while offering mineral UV SPF15 protection in one clever product. Enriched with our own blend of natural source vitamin E, borage and avocado, specially selected to work in harmony with our skincare range – this really is the ultimate make up must-have.’

Cleanse, Polish, Boost, Repair and Brighten.

Liz Earle Skin Care –

Try-Me Kit 

Liz Earle is a brand I hear a lot of rave reviews from when it comes to skin care, however it wasn’t one which was easily available until recently, when they opened a stand in my local Boots. My sister was the first to try it out a couple of months ago, and she’s done nothing but say brilliant things about it, and we have pretty similar skin type. Therefore, I thought I would give it a try and see what happened. Unlike most brands Liz Earle sells ‘Try-Me Kits’ for each skin types, the little bag contains travel size products which allows you to try out the whole skin care routine without having to buy each full sized product…which I think is incredible! I chose the Normal/Combination skin type kit, and it contains everything I need to achieve healthy-looking, beautiful skin. The 3 daily essentials claim to deliver outstanding results whilst the fast-acting Brightening Treatment Mask instantly reveals radiance.

Flakie.

Polish Me Silly –

Flakie Collection 

These flakes are the newest trend to hit the nail polish community and they will not disappoint you! All of the colours of the rainbow appear in these flakes. The flakes are opaque so they can be applied over any base colour, I personally love how they look over black polish!

Polishes in this collection are:

Flakey Fun – this is a mix of pretty much all colours, a few blues, purple, silver, green and other colours of the rainbow are the lovely colours that will travel through the colour shifts on your nails

Free Fall – a true shift of greens, amber, bronze and gold

Stop Flaking On Me – a true shift between blue, green, hot pink, red, orange, yellow and purple

Party Hearty - all of the colours of the rainbow appear in these flakes

Ever Glades – a true shift from kelly green, bright blue, a purple and a soothing teal bluish green

Inferno - true colour shift from Red to orange to a golden yellow to a gorgeous kelly green

Tinsel Town – this polish colour shifts throughout the rainbow and is gorgeous

Autum-Matic - beautiful shift that glides through many greens to a golden/yellow and has a beautiful reddish orange that appears quite often

Peacock – true colour shift from teal blue to cobalt blue to a deep purple to a gorgeous green

These are just a few of those available!

The colour shift is truly mind blowing on each of these polishes! Under certain lights it has a very cool metallic look! These polishes are a must have...trust me...you won't be disappointed! Each topcoat only requires 1 to 2 very thin coats to achieve your desired look. However, be sure to apply a topcoat to seal in the flakes and allow for a smooth finish!

These are released in the UK on Friday on rainbow-connection.co.uk, I’m not sure what price they will be at right now, but they shouldn’t be two expensive. They will be available separately or you can buy all of them in mini form that I think is incredible. These polishes are definitely something I haven’t seen before and I am truly in love with them, cant wait to get my hands on them!

Tint-in-Oil.

YSL - 

Volupte Tint-in-Oil  

Anyone who reads my blog often will know I’m a sucker for a good lip product, and trust me, this looks like a gem! Being released early next year is the YSL Volupte Tint-in-Oil. So, what is a Tint-in-Oil I hear you ask...basically, Yves Saint Laurent are launching a new lip oil, infused with colour; something that we haven’t really seen at all recently. According to the press release, it “combines” the benefits and sensuousness of oil with the beautifying effect of colour. Volupte Tint-in-Oil is a mix of tint, gloss and lip balm. No sensation of dry lips. No sticky texture. No rapid colour fade. YSL explains: ‘Coat your lips with this lip tint for a lightweight texture that instantly melts onto lips. It is infused with a blend of four essential oils for deep hydration: apricot kernel oil, coriander fruit oil, jojoba seed oil, and possiflora edulis seed oil. Its exclusive applicator envelops the lips in full colour and allows for a precise and uniform application. Lightweight and non-sticky, this lip tint offers a new and luminous shine while the tint effect enhances the natural beauty of the lips—making it the perfect combination for youthful looking lips.’ The new formula is a combination of five nourishing oils that help deliver colour while caring for the lips: apricot kernel oil, macadamia seed oil, coriander fruit oil, jojoba seed oil and passion flower oil. “It’s great for people who might be afraid of colour as it’s super natural,” says Lloyd Simmonds, Creative Makeup Director of YSL Beauté.

Doesn’t it sound incredible! Avaliable in 7 shades there is a colour for everyone, and they sound so up my street as I’m rather shy of strong colours; therefore I always sway towards the sheer colours or pinks.

Truly can’t wait to get my hands one these!

                                                                             

Eye Tint.

Giorgio Armani - 

Eye Tint

Next year will see the launch of Giorgio Armani’s new beauty product. This time, the famous haute couture designer and his namesake beauty brand are releasing an innovative liquid eye shadow named Giorgio Armani Eye Tint.

As explained in the official press release, Giorgio Armani Eye Tint is actually a liquid eye shadow, which dries upon contact with skin, leaving a sheer veil of color. The texture is long lasting and non-sticky, which means that it won’t crease, fade or run from your eyelids. Armani’s Eye Tint promises no less than 16 hours of perfect hold! The Eye Tint comes in 12 gorgeous intense shades, ranging from icy blue to black charcoal. These buildable eye shadows with metallic finish can be used for both glamorous and natural, translucent makeup, depending on how you apply it. The light, fluid-like texture is flexible enough to set as an elastic film on the eyelids, without caking, streaking, or leaving any residues… Its lightweight texture is formulated using the smart eye color film technology, which is actually a unique water and pigment suspension that feels fresh and comfortable on the skin.

This is definitely one release I’m super excited about! I love Giorgio Armani beauty anyway, and anything that promises a long lasting, metallic, stunning finish at least deserves a few swatches!

Dear Santa...

When it comes to Christmas presents I’m rubbish. If I see stuff I want I have a tendency of just buying it, therefore creating a list of things I want can be really tricky. Every year I try my hardest, but it’s always a small list. Therefore I thought I would share it with you, it’s a mix of beauty and non-beauty things. So lets begin.

Romance.

Chanel –

Rouge Coco Shine in shade 55 Romance 

 "As melt-away as a balm, its lip-embracing texture becomes fluid on contact with the lips and provides a stunning gloss effect with natural shine. Deliciously fresh and soft, it delivers an unforgettable sensation of well-being.Lips are enveloped in the incomparable comfort of continuous 8-hour-long hydration thanks to the Hydratender complex, the secret behind the softness of the ROUGE COCO range. Sparkling with vitality, your smile takes on a new sheer colour, from nude beige to tangy red. ROUGE COCO SHINE is available in 18 shades infused with luminosity allowing your smile adapts to portray emotion and desire of each day. From her first successes to magical encounters, the shade names tell the story of Coco Chanel at the dawn of her destiny"

Speed & Tonic.

Ciaté London –

Speed Coat & Nail Tonic

Whilst having a good nosy round TKMaxx the other day I came across these two little products. At the minute I really love Ciate products, and therefore I was really excited to try their treatments rather then just the polishes. Now, after my Dior Gel Top Coat becoming unusable due to it become pretty much glue…making application horrific (never going to be buying this again) I was really in need of a new top coat, therefore the finding of this was pretty darn good timing, and in regards to the hydrator, I keep going on and off gel polish, therefore after a few weeks of gel polish my nails where in serious need for some TLC and this sounded perfect.

Rose Gold.

Benefit - 

Rockateur Box o’ Powder

For some reason, Benefit is a brand I rarely have any interest in. However, as autumn started approaching everyone seemed to start talking about how amazing the Benefit Rockateur blush was for autumn/winter due it its rose gold shimmer. Therefore whilst at my local Debenhams I thought I would give it a swatch and I fell in love!

Flawless Perfection.

Dior - Forever Compact Flawless Perfection Fusion Wear Makeup SPF 25

Recently i have loved my bareMinerals foundation, however it’s not the best for taking with me and using on the go. Therefore, i wanted something that was really good at covering pores specifically but was compact and sturdy enough to take with me on the go. I did originally use the Giorgio Armani maestro compact; however the case it came in wasn’t very good and has inevitably fallen apart. So, instead, i purchased the powder foundation version after swatching it, the assistant applied it and i truly fell in love with its texture.

November Wish List.

As it’s coming up to November I thought I would create a little wish list of what I have my eye on for the following month...

Fall Quiz.

I was recently tagged in this post, therefore i thought it was only right to post and answer it. 

1. Pumpkin pie or apple pie?

Apple pie is amazing.

2. Favourite fall song?

Really depends what’s in the charts, and what’s new out.

3. Favourite Halloween song?

Marilyn Manson This is Halloween

4. Favourite fall drink?

Hot Chocolate (tends to be soya) is definitely the way forward throughout fall

5. Favourite fall food?

I really love warm chocolate pastries during fall, basically anything that can keep me warm and toasty inside.

6. Favourite Halloween/fall movie?

I haven’t yet found a Halloween film that scares me, I remember my sister running out of the cinema whilst watching Hostel (please comment below any amazing horror films that I can watch). During Halloween I tend to love watching kids Halloween films (definitely the teacher inside me)

7. Favourite fall colour?

I really love red during winter especially tartan; I don’t personally think I wear enough of it. I also love wearing navy and grey during winter.

8. Favourite Halloween candy?

I don’t really eat candy/sweets, if I do I tend to eat chocolate, especially 'Hotel Chocolat' chocolate which is amazing!

9. Leggings or jeans?

Jeans…leggings are good, but I tend to find they fall down constantly and I spend most of the time pulling them up…awkward.

10. Favourite fall blogs?

I don’t have any blogs which I’m more drawn to during fall, I have my favourites which I look at most days, I do however tend to look on Instagram and have a look through other bloggers feeds, and take a look at their pages if they have one.

11. 10 mini pumpkins or 1 big pumpkin?

I don’t like pumpkins…I’m sorry!

12. Favourite book to read in the fall?

I like to read more dark fiction during fall, books that are more mysterious.

13. Favourite candle scent(s)?

Cinnamon is my favourite scent, however I don’t tend to have them in the house because my dad worries about me being a ‘fire hazard’ because of me being so clumsy.

14. Coffee or tea?

I don’t drink coffee so it would always be tea.

15. Favourite fall activity?

Walking in the woods through crunchy leaves with my boyfriend and the dog/s. I also love going to markets throughout fall, they always seem to come into their own during fall and Christmas.

16. Caramel apple or candy apple?

Never tried a candy apple, not sure if they do them in the UK. I did have a caramel apple one and broke my tooth…may try them again if I find them this bonfire night.

17. Favourite fall outfit?

UGGs (not just the fluffy boots, but also their other range of shoes, there all amazing and so warm) and a thick, woolly, super comfy cardigan.

18. Sweaters of jackets?

Cardigans…sorry to add one on.

19. Mittens or gloves?

Fingerless gloves because other wise I cant touch or use my iPhone…which causes way too many problems for me

20. Favourite tree?

…I don’t really know trees apart, my boyfriend does try to teach me, but so far no luck…I do like conkers, so I'm guessing a conker tree? 

21. Halloween or thanksgiving?

Halloween, because we don’t celebrate thanksgiving

22. Sweet treats or salty treats?

Sweet all the way.

23. What do you have for thanksgiving?

We don’t celebrate thanksgiving in the UK…I don’t think

24. Corn maze or haunted house?

Both…the scarier the better!

25. Would you have a fall themed wedding?

If it would promise not to rain, I would definitely have a fall wedding, however due to the fact it tends to rain constantly in the UK summer all the way.

26. Traditional jack-o-lanterns or artistic jack-o-lanterns?

I’m not really sure what a jack-o-lantern is…let me google it. OH a pumping lantern…ok I get it. I really like the traditional ones, however I did see an amazing minion one the other day which was so good!

27. Zombies or vampires?

Vampires all the way

28. Scarves or hats?

Scarves, I really don’t suit a hat, at all. I don’t really know how to wear one if I’m being honest.

29. Do you like baking?

I like my boyfriend and sisters baking, everything I bake tends to burn or turns out wrong, but I like to try anyway.

30.Favourite thing about fall?

I live in-between lots of trees, woods and countryside; therefore my view during fall is amazing and colourful! I also love walking through crunchy leaves during fall…I’m definitely one giant child at heart.